Sayadaw : It is necessary for us to
do limitless Good Deeds as much as possible.

It is not sufficient if
people choose to do or have ability to do only one type of good deeds such
as, doing dana (charity) only or
observing sila
(morality) only or doing bhavana
(contemplation) only.

With the aim of
providing opportunities for yogis and disciples to do wide range of good deeds
on regular basis, I established ThaBarWa Centre. On top of this, I am also
leading them by example, teaching sacca dhamma and insight meditation as well
as carrying out social duties and responsibilities by following dhamma
teachings and solving the problems with the aid of dhamma . At the same time, I am encouraging and
guiding them to do likewise, to follow my footstep.

The most important and
crucial point here is that I initiated into the Dhamma contemplation and
practice while doing business and while I was going through poor health
problems, I learnt not to solve problems and difficulties by following created
social norms. Instead, I overcome and solve them by following dhamma philosophy
and teachings.

Ever since I have come
to realize that practicing dhamma and doing dhamma contemplation is vital for
everybody, every circumstances, time and place, I took on everyone who come to ThaBarWa
to seek refuge. Those people include yogis,
who are genuinely interested in to
practice insight meditation as well as those who come here for care and
attention due to various background and personal reasons such as poor health,
unable to earn for living and unable to look after themselves among other
reasons.

I not only teach them
sacca dhamma and insight meditation but also guide them to solve their problems
and issues in a right way, by taking refuge in dhamma teachings and by doing
good deeds. Now people have come realise that solving problems in dhamma way is
the most effective and beneficial.

Instead of confronting
with and solving problems directly by following traditional and social norms, I
encourage, train and guide those who come to ThaBarWa Centre to seek refuge,
including aged persons and those who are facing complex health, social and financial
problems, to solve their problems with the aid of dhamma.I teach them to enhance the power for true
understanding by listening to dhamma teachings, practicing insight meditation
and performing good deeds as much as possible.

Those people gradually
come to realize that their problems were solved due to the merits which they
gained by doing various good deeds while staying at ThaBarWa. The news spread around and thus, as time goes
by, we see more and more people with similar problems and issues seeking refuge
at ThaBarWa Centre.

Moreover,
the yogis who genuinely have desire to practice vipassana insight meditation at
ThaBarWa also take this opportunity and do good deeds by looking after the
welfare of the residents who are taking refuge in the Centre. Since I am leading by example, by doing limitless
good deeds continuously, all the yogis, disciples and volunteers are also
following my footstep by doing good deeds as much as possible.

Along the way, all of
them came to realise that following my footsteps and doing those
simple and basic actions can truly be beneficial and bring even greater results
and benefits. Since
it is the sanctuary without discrimination as to number, system, accommodation,
time, race, religion, age etc., even more people from
all walks of life are now seeking refuge at ThaBarWa Centre.

This is the background summary
of ThaBarWa, a peaceful sanctuary for the yogis as well as hopeless and
helpless old and the infirm. I did not purposely create this situation. Neither
was I given any alternative. In general, not many people have keen interests in
staying permanently at meditation centres to practice meditation. As such, when
I first established ThaBarWa Centre, I had no choice but to accept everyone,
regardless of their character, background and teach sacca dhamma, insight
meditation and merit making.

Now, more and more
people come to realise and accept the fact that doing simple good deeds can
truly be beneficial and can achieve even greater results and benefits. Due to
this good reputation, my project and mission becomes even bigger and reach to
this current scale and level.

At the same time, I am
given more opportunities to do better things for people in future. Any
question?

Korean Yogi : Please give us short dhamma teaching
containing the essence of your teaching so that watchers of this movie could
understand and listen to some of your teachings. Teach us please.

Sayadaw : Not
only while you are practicing insight meditation and doing good deeds but also
while carrying out your unavoidable social obligations and worldly endeavours,
it is important for you to centre your mind on nothing but abandoning at all
times.

It is important for you
to abandon your habit of placing central emphasis on yourself, your perceived
rights and wrongs, time, place, method, etc, .
I centre my teaching on this most important aspect of dhamma, 'doing
abandoning in your mind at all times', and train my yogis and disciples
accordingly.

Everybody needs to do
good deeds as much as possible. Even when you are carrying out unavoidable
social obligations, you need to learn to do them freely, 'doing-only'.

If you carry out your
actions by centring your mind on human beings, animals, I, you, man, woman,
living beings, non-living things, etc, your actions can be considered as you
are simply doing your actions with grasping on human beings, animals, living
beings, non-living things, man, woman, etc.

It is a norm for people
to carry out their worldly actions and tasks with grasping. Even when they are doing dana, sila and
bhavana good deeds, they habitually do them with
grasping such as human beings, animals, seniority, old, young, living,
non-living, I, you, man, woman, etc.

The essence of my
teaching and coaching centre mainly on the cause (effort), attaining the mind
power to abandon their habit of placing central emphasis on themselves, others,
methods, time, place, etc, in their mind. My teaching centre mainly on solving
the most important and critical problem and teach them the right way to solve
those problems. This method, so far, is
the most suitable and essential method for current, present-day situation. If the situation change in future, I will
change my teachings and methods accordingly to fit in to the changing
environment and situation. I will
continuously guide and lead my yogis and disciples to their ultimate goal of
attaining the ability to do limitless good deeds without grasping.

Daily activities to participate ….

ThaBarWa Centre or ThaBarWa Yeiktha is an ideal place for learning and practicing meditation as well as for helping others who have physical and mental limitations and difficulties.

Our center takes care of everybody, regardless of age, race and religion, who cannot support themselves and survive on their own due to various reasons and at the same time teaching them how to meditate and purify their mind.

The population of our centre is more than 2,500. By staying at our centre, you will have plenty of chances to experience and participate in the following activities …

1. Following the monks in their daily alms rounds and helping in distributing the alms food to infirm, old folks and meditators.

2. Taking care of and assisting infirm or old folks with their chores.

3. Visiting branches of ThaBarWa Centres (across Myanmar).

4. Learning Burmese culture and the people.

5. Attending insight meditation session and classes.

6. Helping in the kitchen, cooking and distributing food.

7. Helping in the health care, in the clinics and wards.

8. Helping in the library.

9. Assisting Venerable with management, IT and technology.

10. Visiting the mercy villages which were established (by ThaBarWa) for homeless and needy families and individuals.

11. Sharing your language, IT and technology knowledge and expertise with adults and Children of our centre.

Sayadaw Ashin Ottamasara

Please click the photo to visit Sayadaw's facebook

Biography

Sayadaw Ashin Uttamasara was born in Katha, Sagaing Division, Myanmar on Sunday 26th October 1969.

Since his youth he placed full value on education. He passed Matriculation in 1986 with flying colors. After completing a B.A (English, Honors) from the University of Yangon in 1992, he became a young entrepreneur and successful businessman within a short period of time.

Faced with difficulties and frustrations in running a complex business for 7 years, he sought refuge in the Dhamma in 1999. With the help of a Dhamma friend, he entered the Mogok Meditation Centre at Insein Monastery for a five-day meditation retreat, becoming initiated in Dhamma contemplation and practice.

From February 1999 to January 2002 he deeply concentrated on meditation. He became so devoted to Dhamma that he was able to reduce his business calmly, without much attachment.

For the propagation of Dhamma he donated all the assets he had accumulated during 6 years of entrepreneurship. He then concentrated on charity, morality and insight contemplation to find the perfect Truth.

In 2002, he was ordained in Yangon by Sayadaw U Nayyasagara and started to teach Vipassana Insight Meditation.

Today, Sayadaw teaches Dhamma and Guided Vipassana Insight Meditation in various institutions, schools, hospitals and individual residences in Myanmar and other countries.

Sayadaw remains a well-known name throughout the shores of Myanmar and beyond.

Thabarwa is a place for everyone!!

Thabarwa Center is a non-profit humanitarian organization working for a noble cause.

We provide a home sweet home for everybody (both for locals and foreigners alike), unconditionally.

We open 24 hours a day, seven days a week without recess.

The activities of Sayadaw Ashin Uttamasara and Thabarwa Center are wide and various, serving the spiritual and physical needs of thousands from far and near.

More and more visitors from all over Myanmar and abroad are coming daily to visit, learn meditation and volunteer their skills and time in caring for those taking refuge at Thabarwa Center.

Good deeds at Thabarwa

• Providing refuge not only for meditators but also for the old aged, homeless, orphans, loners, infirm and the people with physical and mental difficulties.

• Currently more than 2,500 people (as of October 2015) taking refuge at our centre.

• Providing health care, food, clothing, shelter, clean water for cooking and drinking, etc. and offering aids and support for free of charge.

• Solving day to day problems of centre residents, meditators, volunteers and visitors.

• Communicating and cooperating with volunteers, charities, non-profit organizations and philanthropists from Myanmar and abroad.

• Conducting daily Vipassana Insight Meditation and Dhamma Talks.

• Conducting retreats in the traditions of renowned vipassana meditation masters. All the meditation methods are being utilized without attachment to any particular method.